Comments on: Three Years Later… And no jobs, jobs, jobs! http://my.counseling.org/2009/07/09/three-years-later-and-no-jobs-jobs-jobs/ ACA blogs, written by counselors, for counselors: Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:16:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: GingerB http://my.counseling.org/2009/07/09/three-years-later-and-no-jobs-jobs-jobs/comment-page-1/#comment-7142 GingerB Thu, 27 Oct 2011 05:44:30 +0000 http://my.counseling.org/?p=182#comment-7142 I have to say that it is not enough to enjoy or "love" what you do. In my situation, living overseas has posed it's own set of complications. Having graduated with a Master's in Counseling Psychology and passing the NCE, the next logical step is working on supervision hours to knock out the state and national licensure requirements. Simple right? Not so. The US Military in Germany has presented itself as an entity that is willing to do whatever it takes to hire and train up counselors to assist active duty and family members. The catch is that only licensed individuals are hired. In my opinion, this is reasonable. However, these same departments are not willing to supervise someone like me in an unpaid capacity. I saw this trend taking place approximately three years ago and now it appears to be a universal feeling - unwillingness to train up the next generation. I have experience and education, but nothing seems beneficial in getting you an actual interview. Doors are not just closed, they are outright slammed in my face! Counseling professionals are not willing to supervise others, at least in Germany. I am running out of time, out of resources, and out of patience. I'm looking at a year and a half without any success in finding a qualified and willing supervisor. I considered just going straight for my terminal degree, but then I would be in the same predicament working on licensure. I have to say that it is not enough to enjoy or “love” what you do. In my situation, living overseas has posed it’s own set of complications. Having graduated with a Master’s in Counseling Psychology and passing the NCE, the next logical step is working on supervision hours to knock out the state and national licensure requirements. Simple right? Not so. The US Military in Germany has presented itself as an entity that is willing to do whatever it takes to hire and train up counselors to assist active duty and family members. The catch is that only licensed individuals are hired. In my opinion, this is reasonable. However, these same departments are not willing to supervise someone like me in an unpaid capacity. I saw this trend taking place approximately three years ago and now it appears to be a universal feeling – unwillingness to train up the next generation. I have experience and education, but nothing seems beneficial in getting you an actual interview. Doors are not just closed, they are outright slammed in my face! Counseling professionals are not willing to supervise others, at least in Germany. I am running out of time, out of resources, and out of patience. I’m looking at a year and a half without any success in finding a qualified and willing supervisor. I considered just going straight for my terminal degree, but then I would be in the same predicament working on licensure.

]]> By: washington dc jobs http://my.counseling.org/2009/07/09/three-years-later-and-no-jobs-jobs-jobs/comment-page-1/#comment-4139 washington dc jobs Sun, 13 Feb 2011 15:13:07 +0000 http://my.counseling.org/?p=182#comment-4139 See your scenario for what it actually is and ask yourself why you are looking to switch. Are you being forced out for reason of marketplace shifts of enterprise trends? Are you burnt out? Do you wish aquire more money? Are you miserable in what you do? Have you tried your best but found that your career is "just not a great fit"? Have you decided its time to pursue a long lost career love? See your scenario for what it actually is and ask yourself why you are looking to switch. Are you being forced out for reason of marketplace shifts of enterprise trends? Are you burnt out? Do you wish aquire more money? Are you miserable in what you do? Have you tried your best but found that your career is “just not a great fit”? Have you decided its time to pursue a long lost career love?

]]> By: Shawn Ware-Avant http://my.counseling.org/2009/07/09/three-years-later-and-no-jobs-jobs-jobs/comment-page-1/#comment-58 Shawn Ware-Avant Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:52:17 +0000 http://my.counseling.org/?p=182#comment-58 Jessica wrote: "When we talk about the rest of our cohort, we wonder how “useful” our degree really is. We all struggled findings jobs in our field and many in our cohort have simply found jobs completely unrelated...we want to know having spent two years on a degree that we are somehow MORE marketable, MORE valuable but perhaps we aren’t." I am not in Rehab Therapy, but appreciate how much this field must be growing with the increase in lay-offs/unemployment. I would suspect that there are jobs out there, but may be difficult to find as people who are "hungry" put themselves out there, before companies start looking. If Rehab is your passion, I'd say hang in there and keep advocating. Once people know your name and identify you with your advocacy efforts, they will find you! I wanted to add another spin on the whole "making a living" thing, however. I remember when I was in graduate school, all I knew was that I enjoyed helping people. I wasn't sure in what capacity, but knew that becoming a clinician was the right path for me. Ultimately, I decided that I enjoy most working with kids, but only made this discovery after having one myself just before graduating. This, I believe has been the key to job stability for me, even in difficult economic times. I LOVE my work and if I were to win the lottery, I would do it for free. I believe that people feel this passion and because I enjoy my work, I am good at it. Money was not my focus, nor "work" especially. I just wanted to help. I also wanted to make a "life" for myself, not just a "living." As a result, I think I have built a pretty solid professional reputation for the work I do, and people seek me out because we enjoy working together. I think it is important, in choosing a career track, to look for something that you already enjoy doing. In a market that is saturated with trained professionals, it is typically those with a real passion for their area of expertise that stand out from the crowd. Relative to advocacy... if you're willing to get up on the roof and scream that what you do is important and help people to understand why, then you've found the key to all the material benefits that will come after it. (smile) Shawn Jessica wrote: “When we talk about the rest of our cohort, we wonder how “useful” our degree really is. We all struggled findings jobs in our field and many in our cohort have simply found jobs completely unrelated…we want to know having spent two years on a degree that we are somehow MORE marketable, MORE valuable but perhaps we aren’t.”

I am not in Rehab Therapy, but appreciate how much this field must be growing with the increase in lay-offs/unemployment. I would suspect that there are jobs out there, but may be difficult to find as people who are “hungry” put themselves out there, before companies start looking. If Rehab is your passion, I’d say hang in there and keep advocating. Once people know your name and identify you with your advocacy efforts, they will find you!

I wanted to add another spin on the whole “making a living” thing, however. I remember when I was in graduate school, all I knew was that I enjoyed helping people. I wasn’t sure in what capacity, but knew that becoming a clinician was the right path for me. Ultimately, I decided that I enjoy most working with kids, but only made this discovery after having one myself just before graduating. This, I believe has been the key to job stability for me, even in difficult economic times.

I LOVE my work and if I were to win the lottery, I would do it for free. I believe that people feel this passion and because I enjoy my work, I am good at it. Money was not my focus, nor “work” especially. I just wanted to help. I also wanted to make a “life” for myself, not just a “living.” As a result, I think I have built a pretty solid professional reputation for the work I do, and people seek me out because we enjoy working together.

I think it is important, in choosing a career track, to look for something that you already enjoy doing. In a market that is saturated with trained professionals, it is typically those with a real passion for their area of expertise that stand out from the crowd.

Relative to advocacy… if you’re willing to get up on the roof and scream that what you do is important and help people to understand why, then you’ve found the key to all the material benefits that will come after it. (smile)

Shawn

]]> By: Jessica Diaz http://my.counseling.org/2009/07/09/three-years-later-and-no-jobs-jobs-jobs/comment-page-1/#comment-53 Jessica Diaz Wed, 15 Jul 2009 22:20:20 +0000 http://my.counseling.org/?p=182#comment-53 I definitely think rehab counseling is a rewarding career but like all professions, they have there ups and downs, pros and cons. My advise is to find your niche within the field of rehab counseling as soon as you can and start making contacts. Don't settle for any internship. Choose one that is close to where you see yourself working after you finish. Those of us who did, ended up with jobs offers after we completed our 600 hours. Finally, get your CRC and become involved within the profession. Rehab counseling is all about networking and bridging your professional contacts. If something doesn't work out, reach out to others and stay "in the mix." Attended your local and national conferences. Hope this helps and good luck. I definitely think rehab counseling is a rewarding career but like all professions, they have there ups and downs, pros and cons. My advise is to find your niche within the field of rehab counseling as soon as you can and start making contacts. Don’t settle for any internship. Choose one that is close to where you see yourself working after you finish. Those of us who did, ended up with jobs offers after we completed our 600 hours. Finally, get your CRC and become involved within the profession. Rehab counseling is all about networking and bridging your professional contacts. If something doesn’t work out, reach out to others and stay “in the mix.” Attended your local and national conferences. Hope this helps and good luck.

]]> By: Deborah http://my.counseling.org/2009/07/09/three-years-later-and-no-jobs-jobs-jobs/comment-page-1/#comment-50 Deborah Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:21:27 +0000 http://my.counseling.org/?p=182#comment-50 Hey Jess! I liked your article. After a long consideration on what to do I have decided to pursue my master in rehab counseling. I am excited and apprehensive at the same time because I know there is no guarantee that I will be able to get something in my field. I have debated this up and down in my head as to whether I should take the chance to take the time and spend the money which I ultimately decided to do. I am a hopeful person by nature and after I am done(about 3 years) then I hope there will be job openings available for me. If you have any advice for me to increase my chances when I gradate from this program I would appreciate it. Best, Deborah Meredith Hey Jess!

I liked your article. After a long consideration on what to do I have decided to pursue my master in rehab counseling. I am excited and apprehensive at the same time because I know there is no guarantee that I will be able to get something in my field. I have debated this up and down in my head as to whether I should take the chance to take the time and spend the money which I ultimately decided to do.

I am a hopeful person by nature and after I am done(about 3 years) then I hope there will be job openings available for me.

If you have any advice for me to increase my chances when I gradate from this program I would appreciate it.

Best,

Deborah Meredith

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